Red Sox $18M Arm Nearing Return for Boston

It certainly sounds like the Boston Red Sox could have another reinforcement in the near future.

Boston's starting rotation is loaded right now with Garrett Crochet, Connelly Early, Brayan Bello, Sonny Gray and Ranger Suárez. Johan Oviedo is currently in the bullpen as well ready to make the jump back to the rotation whenever Boston needs.

While the Red Sox haven't started the season as hoped, this rotation is going to be a strength for the organization over the course of the 2026 season. There is simply too much talent for the rotation to not be good. Plus, there's more talent down in the minors as well. Payton Tolle is down in Triple-A right now and it sounds like another veteran reinforcement is inching his way back to the club. Tim Healey of The Boston Globe reported that Patrick Sandoval, who missed the 2025 season, will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Portland on Sunday.

"Patrick Sandoval will begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Portland on Sunday, the Red Sox said," Healey wrote.

The Red Sox will have a decision to make

Boston Red Sox pitcher Patrick Sandoval (43) throws the ball during warm ups in the first day of Spring Training on Feb 12, 2025 in Lee County, FL, USA. Chris Tilley-Imagn Images | Chris Tilley-Imagn Images

Sandoval missed the entire 2025 season and has been working his way back since. Sandoval landed a two-year, $18.25 million deal with Boston before the 2025 season. With Sandoval set to begin a minor league rehab assignment, the clock will start ticking on Sunday. Per league rules, when a pitcher begins a minor league rehab assignment, there is a 30-day clock for the assignment itself. After that, the big league club has to decide to either bring the hurelr up to the big league club or option them down to the minor, if they have options remaining.

Sandoval is a six-year big league veteran with a career 4.01 ERA in 536 innings of work in the majors with the Los Angeles Angels. He's made 107 appearances in the majors, including 100 starts. It's unclear what his role will be with Boston. Will he end up being Triple-A depth for the starting rotation? Or, could the club move him to the bullpen as lefty option to help in the near future?

The fastest route for Sandoval to get to Boston's big league roster likely would be in the bullpen. The Red Sox have six starters on the big league roster right now. So many that one is in the bullpen right now in Oviedo. Injuries are going to pop up in the rotation at some point. It's just the nature of the game. It's going to be important to have Sandoval as depth in either role and fortunately, he's making progress.